Illinois State Fair vendors having hard time after flooding

Published
5:56 pm CDT, Thursday, August 18, 2016

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Christi Gaskin carries her daughter Alexia Belcher on her back as she makes her way back to the car with husband Bradley Belcher and her son Dayne during a downpour at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Springfield, Ill. less

Christi Gaskin carries her daughter Alexia Belcher on her back as she makes her way back to the car with husband Bradley Belcher and her son Dayne during a downpour at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Friday, ... more

“I’ve been really afraid to do my numbers accurately because it kind of gives me heartburn,” Justin Hargrove of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who runs the Smoke Stack BBQ stand, told The (Springfield) State Journal-Register on Wednesday. He estimates his revenue is down 50 to 60 percent compared to last year.

The fair opened Aug. 11 and ends Sunday. Official attendance numbers will be available then.

Weather problems started Friday when it rained more than 5 ½ inches and swamped the fairgrounds. The fair closed early and the Grandstand show was canceled. Then it rained all day Monday. And on Tuesday the power went out in the southern areas of the fairgrounds. Fair officials have had to restrict parking in areas because of muddy conditions.

Filia Tzortzis of Springfield operates a Greek food booth and says her sales are down more than half too.

“Monday, it rained all day. We had to be closed down. No customers,” Tzortzis said. “This year, it seems like it’s very difficult.”

Hargrove says he’s been at the fair for five years and despite this year’s setbacks he’ll be back next year. That’s because on Sunday, when there were no weather problems, his business was up compared to last year.

“That tells me right there that if the weather would cooperate, my numbers would probably be up from last year,” he said.